Method for making single beating reeds



Feb. 23, 1937. V A. M. LARSEN METHOD FOR MAKING SINGLE BEATING REEDS Filed Nov. '7, 1932 my! {NVENT R flier/Mew? Aa/sen A TTORNE Y Patented Feb. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Albert Melvin Larsen, Seattle, Wash, assignor to Permanent Reed 00., Seattle, Wash., a corporation of Washington Application November 7, 1932, Serial No. 641,535

1 Claim.

- My invention relates to a single beating or vibrating. reed, such as those used in clarinet and saxophone types of musical instruments. More particularly, my invention relates to a 5 single beating or vibrating reed comprising a cane reed provided with a moisture resisting surface portion or moisture resisting coating of a cellulose plastic material, such as celluloid, cellophane or lumarith or of rubber or to a cane l0 reed having the outer portion impregnated with a cellulose plastic material.

The cane reeds heretofore commonly in use are made from the arundo, donax or sativa plants which are grown in southern Europe. Little difficulty is obtained in the tone quality of the instrument where such cane reeds are used, however, these cane reeds are fragile and fray and break oil, particularly at the thin en'd vibrating edge portion and may be only used for a relatively short period of time. Frequently a musician is required to use two or three reeds in a single evenings performance. The use of these cane reeds is not only undesirable because of their expense, short life and their limited source of supply, but the inconvenience and the uncertainty to the musician as to when he must change a reed during a performance cannot be too highly stressed; The moisture changes the vibration qualities, and accordingly it is a serious objection and it is'highly desirable to eliminate the factor of uncertainty dueto moisture.

The saliva and heat of the players mouth seem to have a deleterious effect upon the vegetable composition of the cane reed so that it soon softens and then becomes inoperative.

The-reed must have a certain degree of stiffness, and this is lost in large measure as the reed absorbs moisture from the mouth of the player. Thus, the elimination of the moisture 4.0 effect is important if it can be accomplished without interfering with the vibration properties of the reed. Besides overcoming other difficulties, such elimination provides for the degree of stiffness of a given reed to be more constant.

45 The cane reeds vary considerably in stiffness. If a player can obtain one dozen suitable reeds in a hundred purchased, he is satisfied, according to present practice. After finally selecting a reed which suits his embouchure, often he experiences an accident in placingvthe ligature or the metal mouth piece cap upon the mouth piece,

i or removing the same, so that the carefully selected cane reed is mined. Then, another time consuming period must elapse while selecting another reed which fits his individual embouchure.

The selection of a suitable reed is a complicated matter. It is manifest that cane reeds are of short life. Cane reeds are expensive, but are characterized by the advantages of having excellent vibrational qualities and exceptionally fine properties in tone production. Therefore, it is highly desirable to obtain a reed of long life having the vibrational and tonal qualities of the cane reed.

I am aware that the use of materials for makl0 ing reeds, other than cane, have been attempted, but these so-called reeds generally have failed to perform satisfactorily. For the exception see my copending application, Serial Number 569,728.

In this connection, I wish to call attention to 15 Groves Dictionary of Music and Musicians, Volume IV, published in 1928, page 340 referring to reeds for clarinets and saxophone types of musical instruments, it is stated as follows: The substance in its rough state is commonly called 20 cane, though differing from real cane in many respects. Many other materials, such as lancewood, ivory, silver and ebonite, or hardened india-rubber have been experimentally substituted for the materials first named, but heretofore 25 without success. v

As indicated by this authority, there have been many attempts to obtain a substitute for the cane reeds now in use. However, these attempts have failed. The expense and short life of the 30 reeds heretofore in use has stimulated an endeavor to obtain a successful substitute.

In overcoming the moisture problem, there is the distinct limitation that the thickness of the resulting reed must be considered. In providing 35 the cane reed with a coating, the same must be of a character which will resist moisture and at the same time not increase the thickness to an objectionable degree. Five one thousandths of an inch is satisfactory, while ten one thou- 40 sandths of an inch thickness is too thick. Any coating which must be applied to a thickness exceeding ten one thousandths of an inch is practically inoperative. The thickness cannot be reduced by pressure beyond a certain point because the pressure damages the fiber structure of the cane reed and this structure must be preserved to retain the highly advantageous tone and vibrational qualities of the cane reed. Furthermore, the coating must be harmless to the player, and must be nonreactive to the moisture of the mouth. I have discovered that it is possible to provide a cane reed with a coating, or to provide a cane reed with the surface portion impregnated so as to eliminate the disadvantages arising by reason of the presence of the moisture and to overcome the short life characteristics of the cane reed and yet to retain the desirable vibratorial and tonal qualities of the cane reed.

The above mentioned general objects of my invention, together with others inherent in the same, are attained by the device illustrated in the following drawing, the same being preferred exemplary forms of embodimentof my invention, throughout which drawing like reference numerals indicate like parts.

Figure 1 represents a plan'view of. a cane reed embodying my invention in the form of a moisture resisting coating of cellulose plastic material, a fragmentary section of the coating being removed to show the cane reed base.

Fig. 2 is a view in section substantially on line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is a view in section of the parts shown in Fig. 2 and showing an additional coating for the protection against the pressure of the ligature.

Fig; 4 is a view in section of an impregnated reed embodying my invention.

Fig. 5 is a view in section of the parts shown in Fig. 4 and showing an additional coating for protection against the pressure of the ligature.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on a larger scale showing the method of applying the covering material.

Fig. '7 is a view in perspective on a reduced scale with parts broken away of a mold or die used in my invention.

Fig. 8 illustrates a pressure means which is adapted to force the respective hinged parts of the mold or die, shown in Fig. '7, together.

Fig. 9 is a view in elevation illustrating a mouthpiece having my reed attached.

In practicing my invention, one process involves cutting a sheet of cellulose plastic material, such as lumarith or celluloid, of the pre-- scribed thickness, that is, of a thickness less than ten one thousandths of an inch and preferably five one thousandths of an inch in thickness, in two pieces, I and H, the total surface area of which only slightly exceeds the surface area of the cane reed 9. A butt member 12 is also cut to cover the butt end of the reed 9. The parts 10, l l, and I2 are then placed upon the cane reed and the edges coated with acetone or amino acetate so that the reed is encased within a sheet covering. The parts l0 and II are preferably lapped as indicated at 13 and I4 in Fig. 6. The last two solutions have been found to be very practical solvents, and are illustrative of solvents which may be used for causing the respective edges of the parts Ill, II, and [2 to adhere. The covered reed is then placed in a suitable mold or die, such as the mold or die illustrated in Fig. 7. This mold or die may comprise a member l having a substantially flat surface l6. Another member I! is preferably secured by hinge 2| to the member l5. The member I1 is preferably composed of a plurality of units [8 secured together. Each unit I8 is provided with a recess [9 of the exact size of the finished product. The finished product must be only slightly larger than the cane reed which is to be covered, as any substantial increase in the size of the finished product over the initial size of the cane reed will interfere with the tonal and playing qualities, as has heretofore been pointed out. Such increase in size may be substantially 5/1000ths of an inch. Therefore, the recess 9 is only slightly larger than the size of the cane reed. The ends of the recesses l9 may be formed of a member 20 secured to the ends of the members l8. The covered reeds are inserted in the recesses l9 and the mold member [5 superimposed over the mold member H. The mold is then heated by any suitable means (not shown) and preferably only to a temperature sufficient to soften the coating material and make the same moldable. In practice I find a temperature about 212 F. to be satisfactory. This may be considerably increased without injury to the reed. When the mold attains the temperature of 212, no further heating is required, and pressure is applied, forcing the members l5 and IT together.

' The pressure means may be in the form shown in Fig. 8. In this figure, 22 represents a substantiallygooseneck shaped member where the mold or die is inserted between the base member 23 and the internally threaded member 24. A threaded screw 25 is positioned within the threaded member 24 and is provided with a turning or handle member 26. By turning of the screw member 25, pressure is applied between members l5 and IT. The reed is cooled within the mold or die under pressure and is then removed and ready for use. It is preferable that an additional covering (see Fig. 3) be placed over the base, or non-vibrating portion of the reed to protect the coating from the pressure of the ligature 28 (see Fig. 9) which secures the reed to the mouth piece 29.

Another method of providing a moisture proof surface is as follows: A solution is made of a cellulose plastic material, such as lumarith or celluloid, by dissolving it in acetone or other suitable solvent-suificient acetone being used to dissolve the cellulose plastic material into liquid form. The cane reed is then dipped into this solution and immediately withdrawn. A butt covering member 30 (see Fig. 4), which is similar to the member l2 in Fig; 4, is then preferably secured in place, as described in connection with the member l2. This dipped reed is then molded before it is allowed to dry. It has been found that dipped reeds which are allowed to dry in the atmosphere warp, and are inoperative. The warping problems are overcome by the molding process hereinafter set forth. Molding may be accomplished by placing the dipped reed into recess I9 of' the mold or die l8 and heated until a temperature of substantially 212 F. is obtained.

Thereupon the mold or die having the reed therein is subjected to pressure and cooled under pressure in the same manner as described in connection with the sheet covered reed. This method provides an impregnated cane reed as indicated in Fig. 4. It is also preferable that an additional covering 3| be placed on the non-vibrating portion of the reed for the same purpose as covering 21, and which covering is applied in a similar manner to that in which member 21 is applied.

In coating with rubber, I have found that rubber, such as rubber that is used for vulcanizing patches on automobile tires may be used. This rubber is preferably of a thickness of five one-thousandths of an inch and is out into two strips as described in the first process above for using cellulose plastic material sheets. These strips are then placed upon the cane reed, and the edges caused to adhere by a suitable rubber adhering compound, such as rubber cement. The reed so covered is then placed in the recess l9 of the mold member I1. The mold member I! is then superimposed over the mold member I1 and the mold is then heated to a temperature sufficient to render the rubber plastic, which is ordinarily higher than that described for the celluloid or lumarith. Such temperature I have found to be 180 C. or 356 F. Upon attaining this temperature, the mold is removed and placed within a pressure means such as the pressure means shown in Fig. 8, and the mold and reed therein are permitted to cool under pressure. A reed so constructed is provided with a thin rubber coating, which coating lengthens the life of the reed and does not impair the vibrating properties thereof.

Obviously, changes may be made in the forms, dimensions and arrangement of the parts of my invention without departing from the principle thereof, the above setting forth only preferred forms of embodiment.

I claim:

The process of making a musical reed comprising coating a cane reed with a solution of cellulosic plastic material, placing the said reed in a compressible mold, heating the mold to a temperature sufficient to mold the cellulosic plastic material, compressing the mold, and then cooling the reed while compressed in the mold to prevent warping, whereby the tonal properties of the reed are substantially preserved against injury by the saliva and the heat of the mouth of the user.

ALBERT MELVIN LARSEN. 

